Volleyball - Lausanne, Switzerland, August 5, 2014 - The first decisions in this year's FIVB World Grand Prix have been made. The Czech Republic and Bulgaria, as well as Croatia and Kazakhstan, have qualified for the Group 3 Final Four on August 16 and 17 in Samokov, Bulgaria. The competition, however, is set to take another exciting turn with 30 Group 1 and 2 ... Read full news

FIVB - Lausanne, Switzerland, September 20, 2013 – The latest edition of VolleyWorld, which covers all the action of this year’s World Grand Prix – the FIVB’s premier volleyball event for women – is now out. ... Read full news

Volleyball - Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 3, 2013 - Brazil’s victorious women’s team have returned home after a tiring 30 hour journey from Sapporo, Japan bringing with them a record ninth World Grand Prix title.... Read full news

Volleyball - Sapporo, Japan, September 2, 2013 – Finishing the 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix Finals with four wins and a loss in Sapporo, China won a silver medal at the six-team round robin tournament, equalling their best result since 2007, when they also finished in second place.
... Read full news

Volleyball - Lausanne, Switzerland, September 2, 2013 - If you missed any of the superb FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Finals action last week, make sure you catch all the replays on FIVB Web TV.... Read full news

Volleyball - Sapporo, Japan, September 1, 2013 – USA defeated Japan 3-2 (17-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12) in the last match of the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals on Sunday at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. Both teams finished with 1-4 records. USA coach Karch Kiraly said it had been a tough week for his team.
... Read full news

Volleyball - Sapporo, Japan, September 1, 2013 – London Olympic champions Brazil swept China 3-0 in a match between two previously unbeaten teams here Sunday afternoon to clinch a record ninth World Grand Prix title with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record and without dropping one single set.... Read full news

Volleyball - Sapporo, Japan, September 1, 2013 – Brazil clinched the gold medal in the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals for a record ninth time on Sunday, overcoming China 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-20) at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. China was the only other team in contention for the gold medal and finished in second place. Brazil coach Ze Roberto emphasised t... Read full news

Volleyball - Sapporo, Japan, September 1, 2013 – Brazil clinched the gold medal in the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals for a record ninth time on Sunday, overcoming China 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-20) at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. China was the only other team in contention for the gold medal and finished in second place.
... Read full news

20 teams to compete for 2013 title

Seasoned spectators can expect some stiff competition at the 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix. Following a decision by the World Grand Prix Council in December 2012, the premier annual FIVB women’s volleyball event will expand to 20 teams, four more than in last year’s edition. In 2013, the FIVB World Grand Prix will return to Japan for the first time in four years, which should please Olympic champions Brazil, who have won the tournament the last three times (2005, 2008, 2009) it has been played there.

However, Brazil will have to face the task of getting past the US, who clinched the 2012 title to remain undefeated for three years in a row. Although Brazil finished as runners-up each time during the Americans’ dominant run, they are the only team along with the US to have also won the title three times from 2004 to 2006.

The World Grand Prix Finals will return to Japan for the first time since 2009 and take place in Sapporo from August 28 to September 1. Japan has hosted the World Grand Prix Finals four times in the past with Sapporo being a fifth host city after Tokyo in 2009, Yokohama in 2008, Sendai in 2005 and Kobe in 1997.

Following the Preliminary Round, the organisers and the next best five teams will qualify for the Finals. The World Grand Prix featured eight teams in its debut season of 1993 and from 1995 to 2002, while 12 teams were in action in 1994 and from 2003 to 2010. Sixteen teams have been involved in the 2011 and 2012 editions.